ACTS 15-16

15:1-4 The discussion goes beyond whether or not Gentiles could become Christians. Do they still need to obey all the Jewish laws? “Were appointed” = “by revelation” of Galatians 2:2. Elders are now mentioned as church leaders alongside apostles.

Some churches tend to equate circumcision with baptism even though there is little NT evidence to link 

them together. Circumcision was a sign to the person himself, not to other Jews. It was to be a reminder 

of the covenant between Israel and God – a blood sacrifice in a way.

By the way, in addition to the extensive use of public baths, it was a Hellenistic practice to compete in 

many sports activities in the nude. This even caused some Jewish men to submit to operations to 

restore their foreskins.

15:5 Throughout Acts, the Pharisees are pictured as being more favorable to Christianity than Sadducees.

15:12-15

12. The old order of names is used here.

14. Symeon: This Semitic form of Peter's name may have been used to remind the audience of 

Simeon's song in Luke 2:29-32 which has a similar theme, or to show that the church still had strongly 

Jewish roots.

15. "prophets" – It could have come from a proof text collection.

 

15:19-23 The principle is not to inhibit fellowship between them.

15:20 Sins other than sexual ones were common in the Roman world: violence against women and 

slaves, gladiator shows, total lack of charity, lavish giving to obtain public honor, widespread sale of 

profitable priesthoods, constant religious festivals accompanied by drunkenness, gluttony, animal 

torture and prostitution (usually not of the sacred prostitution kind, a practice that was dying out except 

in Phoenicia). “In the second and third centuries, accepted sexual practices in the Roman Empire had a 

range and variety which it has never attained since.” (Fox, Pagans and Christians) This included 

marriage between siblings, sex with slaves, bisexuality (“Greek vice”) between young men or between 

men and boys, especially slaves. Also abortion and exposure of unwanted children was common. Male 

prostitution and pimping were generally outlawed, and resorting to a female prostitute was felt to be in 

bad form and a waste of money.

The OT is full of references in which idolatry and sexual sins against monogamy are equated. This is 

not because of any specific sex acts connected with idol worship. Instead, it is because both acts 

represent being unfaithful to your intended love.

22. Friesen points out that God had given his guidance to the Jerusalem council before the meeting 

began by three clear signs: (1) the experience of Peter with Cornelius' conversion (vv. 7-11), (2) God's 

blessing of Paul's ministry (v. 12), and (3) OT writings (vv. 15-18). There was therefore no need for 

them to ask for specific guidance from God at the meeting. (These are equivalent to general revelation, 

circumstances and special revelation).

23. Some detect James' style in the writing of this letter.

 

15:29 Various opinions:

A. moral laws which are absolutely binding: The Western Text of Acts interprets these as idolatry, 

murder, and sexual abominations (The rabbis felt that a Jew could disobey any other laws to save his 

life.) But why would these have to be pointed out to Christians?

B. Ritual Laws: For “blood and strangled” see Leviticus 17:11-12. These were prohibited either due to 

pagan practices or because "the life is in the blood" and the life of an animal belongs to God.

Unchastity (porneia): This could refer to the degrees of marriage allowed (Leviticus 18:6-18) or to 

mixed marriages with unbelievers (Numbers 25:1).

Are they binding on Christians today?

Yes--see Revelation 2:14,20. Also, blood was abstained from in Tertullian's day (3rd cent. AD).

No—Only the general principle still holds. See Acts 15:21 and 1 Corinthians 8; 10:25 (on food offered 

to idols).

29b along with phrases in v. 23 and 28 shows gentle instruction, not a strict, official decree. This is a 

good pattern for today's spiritual leadership.

Meat was very expensive in these times in Roman world. Common events in which to partake of it 

would be (a) at a meal in honor of a god (often a scene of debauchery according to ancient accounts) or 

(b) at an association or trade meeting hosted by a wealthy donor. The most likely location for such a 

gathering would be in the vicinity of a pagan temple (the equivalent of our modern restaurants. (Ben 

Witherington)

Acts 15:1-35 Read Galatians 2:1-10 for additional background on this chapter. Do you think that Peter 

was merely following Paul's advice to be all things to all people?

What does this chapter tell you about the decision-making process in the early church?

What does the decision in verses 19-20 and 28-29 mean? Does it apply to Christians today?

 

15:36-41 Can God bless a decision made for the wrong motives?

 

15:37-39 Paul was task-oriented; Barnabas was people-oriented. Both can accomplish God's will.

 

Acts 16 Paul's second journey goes through chapter 18 and lasted about three years.

16:3 Galatians 2:3 states that Titus was not compelled to be circumcised. Then why did Paul have it 

done when he said it wasn't necessary for Christians? This was for the benefit of Jews that they might 

minister to – another example of Paul trying to be all things to all people.

 

16:4 This is the last time the apostles will be mentioned.

 

16:6 In this verse and Acts 18:23, Luke refers only to the Galatian country, implying that Paul's 

ministry was limited to rural areas.

16:6-7 Why would they have been forbidden from speaking the word in Asia? “The missionary journeys of Paul exhibit an extraordinary combination of strategic planning and keen sensitiveness to the guidance of the Spirit of God.” F. F. Bruce The supposition based on Peter's letter to Asia in I Peter 1:1 is that God reserved that region for Peter himself.

This door closed is the same as the door opened in 2 Corinthians 2:12.

 

16:6-10 Why don't we have such clear signs from God helping us make the right decisions today? This 

is a large subject, so I will refer you to Friesen's book Decision Making and the Will of God. Basically, 

we do have divine guidance, but it comes in different forms.

 

16:9 How did he know the man was a Macedonian?

1. The man was Luke himself

2. by his distinctive clothes or accent

3. He was Alexander the Great, easily recognized by his many portraits on coins, etc.

4. by the context of the speech (come to Macedonia and help us)

 

16:10 One of the “We” sections of Acts starts here, indicating that Luke was present.

 

16:12-13 Roman colonies: especially established cities throughout the Empire, often staffed with 

retired soldiers. They followed Roman customs and laws closely. see Philippians 3:20: "you have a 

colony in heaven."

The gate marks the entrance to the city and has been excavated. Jews may have been forced to meet 

there or wanted to be near running water for ritual purifications. (Foreign lands were unclean, and 

running water purifies them.) There was probably not a quorum of 10 Jewish men for a synagogue.

Freed women in the Roman world often traded in luxury goods.

 

Acts 16:16-18 16. lit. a python spirit. Python was a dragon that guarded the oracle of Delphi. The girl 

was either (a) possessed, (b) mad, or (c) a ventriloquist (soothsayer)

17. The “we” passage stops here and resumes in 20:5.

Why was Paul mad? (1) exploitation of slave girl, (2) negative witness because of its source, (3) 

distortion of the message (can be translated as "a way of salvation"), (4) “Most High God” may be a 

reference to Zeus, or (5) reflects Paul's general outlook on using supernatural means to make money 

(as in 8:18ff and 19:25).

Why did Paul silence the servant girl if she was witnessing to the truth? Some witnesses are actually 

negative.

16:16 Does this mean that we should attribute some validity to people who claim to have this power 

today? Perhaps, especially in third-world countries. See Revelation 20:3.

 

16:19-24 Do we ever turn against the truth for economic reasons?

 

16:21-22 Charges (1) They were Jews: Anti-Semitic feelings ran high, especially since Jews had just 

been expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius. (2) prosyletizing Romans was illegal or introducing 

new religions.

Rods: Lectors carried fasces, an ax surrounded by bundle of wooden rods or sticks as a symbol of 

power.

Acts 16:27-34 Compare the jailer's first actions after conversion to those of other converts in Acts 

(baptism, hospitality).

 

Acts 16:31 Justification for infant baptism (along with v. 15)? However, the condition of belief could 

apply to all; there is no indication that any minors were present; the whole family was preached to and 

they all rejoiced afterwards.

16:36 Possessing a Roman name was usually taken as a good sign that the person was a citizen, as well 

as documents possessed by each citizen and records kept at a local magistrate. There was a great 

penalty for falsely claiming citizenship so not many people did it other than runaway slaves who had 

little to lose.

Acts 16:37-40 Discuss the reason for Paul's behavior. Remember that earlier on, Paul didn't appeal to 

the secular authorities.